Tuesday, July 24, 2007

The communication of 1995 and reply thereby do not support to day’s racist outburst. On that time, “The number of taxi drivers suffering from communication problems (e.g. English)” was less than 8% and the department told us, “things are improving”. So, what is the real story? Where is the truth? Who have been issuing taxi drivers authority to people with no communication skills and why?

The NSW Ombudsman said, “the Department of transport is CAPTURED by the NSW Taxi council”. The NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) said, “the NSW Department of Transport is EVASIVE, NOT FORTHCOMING”. The taxi drivers believe that the NSW Taxi Council Pty Ltd and Cabcharge Pty Ltd control the NSW Department of Transport!

The NSW Passenger Transport Act and Regulations allow the NSW Taxi Council Pty Ltd, Cabcharge Pty Ltd, taxi companies and taxi networks to get away with murder! The long awaited proposed Transport Regulations also continues the stinky tradition!

In support of my claims I would like to add the following for the time being:

A. The taxi companies basically inspect their own taxis under the guise of Authorised Taxi Inspections Schemes (ATIS). Unlike any moving vessels like trains, planes, ships or any other plant and equipment, a taxi cab operator is not obliged under the law to go through a ‘Check List’ prior to the commencement of a shift or at any time! This is a deliberate ploy to remove or at least reduce the quality control and quality assurance of NSW taxicabs detrimental to taxi drivers’ and passengers’ interest.

B. Taxi companies and radio networks are not answerable to the NSW Department of Transport and any ‘failure to comply’ does not attract any penalties whatsoever! That’s why they are deliberately running down their taxi radio networks contrary to the interest of the travelling public and taxi drivers. Because the radio networks make more money if less drivers and passengers use their system due to the guaranteed income protection mechanism built in to the NSW Passenger Transport Acts and Regulations.

C. Despite many valid requests, the taxi companies are not obliged to provide a safe workplace under the ‘Duty of Care’ provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Acts! That’s why, taxi companies collected a lot of money from taxi drivers and passengers under the guise of taxi driver safety earlier and then virtually they gave us nothing!